League Officials Ready For Fight

The battle lines were drawn yesterday ahead of next week's impending players' strike with football's rulers insisting there is no question of cameras being excluded from games in order to allow the matches to go ahead.

The battle lines were drawn yesterday ahead of next week's impending players' strike with football's rulers insisting there is no question of cameras being excluded from games in order to allow the matches to go ahead.

Such a move would threaten the existing television contracts agreed by the Premier League and the Football League, and if the industrial action does proceed the full league programme would have to be cancelled.

The leagues came out fighting yesterday following Tuesday night's announcement by the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) that they have served notice on clubs that industrial action against televised league matches will take place from December 1.

Meanwhile, Football Association chief executive Adam Crozier, who has attempted to remain above the dispute and act as an arbiter, has come out in support of the leagues, describing the authorities' #50m final offer as "fair and equitable".

Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore promised the leagues would do "everything in their power" to prevent a strike, including taking the matter to the High Court.

If the court ruled a strike illegal, and the PFA went ahead with industrial action, the leagues could then sue the union for their assets.

Football League chief executive David Burns, speaking at a joint news conference with Scudamore, left the players in no doubt that the clubs would resist any attempt to play games under a television blackout.

Burns said: "Cameras will be at the football grounds that weekend. Players have an obligation to the clubs. They have a standard form contract - if they are chosen and selected to play they are obligated to play."

Clubs have already threatened to dock players' wages if they strike, but Scudamore insisted they would do all they can to ensure that point is not reached. He said: "We have to get this matter resolved by December 1 - that is our deadline." Officials at Newcastle and Sunderland both refused to comment on the situation yesterday, but Middlesbrough chief executive Keith Lamb wants the football authorities to take a hard line with the PFA.

"This is not a dispute between players and their clubs," he said. "It is between the players and the Premier League.

"For the good of the game, the football authorities must take a hard line to try to get it overturned."

The games under threat

The Professional Footballers' Association have issued strike notices to all its members and plan to boycott all Premier League and Football League matches - if television cameras are present - on December 1 and 2.

The matches scheduled for TV coverage, either live or highlights, on those days are: